About
In a Nut Shell:
I’ve been a commercial graphic/web designer since ‘98 and an artist/photographer ever since I care to remember.
Initially trained in traditional art as early as 9, I moved onto the McClelland Gallery where I mainly learnt to paint with oils. Since then, I’ve been trained in many mediums & experimenting with styles comes naturally.
In more detail:
From the age of about 9, I used to sit & draw the Smurfs while watching the cartoon. My mum enrolled me into art school out some place far from home (it seemed far for a little kid) and here I learnt how to paint with oils after I progressed from ‘coloured pencils’.
Although it was a good art school, my parents took me out, as it wasn’t very safe for a little tacker like me to be out on the street waiting to be picked up after class. (Since we lived quite far from this joint, they couldn’t always make it on time.) The art school wouldn’t let me wait inside either – so that was the end of that.
Then it was onto the McClelland Gallery Art School, which was much closer to home. Here I continued to paint with oils. however, there seemed to be another problem – this time it was me. I was a chatter-box. Yak, yak, yak – get little done on canvas and interrupt all the others with chitter chatter.
So once again, I was taken out from the art school and this time, my bedroom became my “art class” on the weekends. I had a range of Walt Disney picture books and a set of 72 Derwent pencils to practice with. And I soon found out that my least favourite subject was Snow White – or any other beauty – as I could never draw the hands properly… the face was not very pretty once I was finished with it either!
At primary school I also enjoyed drawing and creating things. My projects would always get an A++ for presentation but the content was neither here nor there. It was inevitable, I would become a commercial graphic designer where presentation meant everything!
I started my commercial business, Limelight Design Studios in 1998. I also design & develop websites and offer photographic services, which is my other passion. It was only as recent as 2005 where I had decided to start painting again – and I had a strong interest in Polynesian Art, Tiki’s, retro pin-ups, hotrods and all things 1950s.